Res. No. 229
Title
Resolution calling upon the Board of Education to mandate that all school children in grade five or lower be required to remain at school until a parent or authorized person of responsible age picks them up.
Body
By Council Members Jennings, Avella, Baez, Barron, Boyland, Brewer, Clarke, DeBlasio, Dilan, Felder, Fidler, Foster, Gennaro, Gerson, Gioia, Katz, Koppell, Liu, Lopez, Martinez, McMahon, Monserrate, Nelson, Perkins, Provenzano, Reed, Reyna, Rivera, Seabrook, Sears, Serrano, Stewart, Vann, Weprin and Yassky
Whereas, The safety of our City's children is paramount; and
Whereas, According to the New York City Board of Education's Regulations, sustaining "a safe and secure school environment is the shared responsibility of the entire school community, including school safety, pedagogical, non-pedagogical and custodial personnel, parents and students"; and
Whereas, The Board of Education's Regulations further state that the "maintenance of order and security in and around public schools is essential to creating learning environments in which students can meet high academic standards, educators can teach to those standards, and parents can be assured that the children are guaranteed their right to learn"; and
Whereas, In March 2002, a series of reported incidents have occurred in Queens involving pedophiles who have molested, exposed themselves, or tried to lure school children into their cars; and
Whereas, Several of these reported incidents involved elementary school children who were on their way to and from school; and
Whereas, Multiple suspects have been arrested for allegedly exposing themselves to school children in Queens; and
Whereas, Parents of children who attend P.S. 223 in Queens have been advised to escort their children to and from school, and to create a buddy system; and
Whereas, These incidents may have been averted if the children had been accompanied by an adult or authorized person of responsible age; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Board of Education to mandate that all school children in grade five or lower be required to remain at school until a parent or authorized person of responsible age picks them up.
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